100 English comparatives

The comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs are used when you want to compare two things in order to show the difference between them. (We use superlatives when we’re comparing more than two things)

For example:

Book A is $20 and Book B is $10.

Book A is more expensive than Book B.

Book B is cheaper than Book A.

Forming comparatives

The comparative is formed by adding ‘-er’ to short (one syllable) words

fast – faster

long – longer

quick – quicker

For one syllable words that end in a vowel and a consonant, double the consonant and add ‘-er’

big – bigger

fat – fatter

hot – hotter

To form the comparative with most two syllable words we add ‘more’

boring – more boring

careful – more careful

Some two syllable words can have ‘-er’ and ‘more’

simple – simpler – more simple

healthy – healthier – more healthy

quiet – quiter – more quiet

For three syllable words we use ‘more’

more musical

more efficient

more important

♦ We need to make our filing system more efficient.

For words that end in ‘y’, change the ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘-er’

funny – funnier

happy – happier

angry – angrier

For words that end in ‘-e’ just add ‘r’

safe – safer

♦ She’s a much safer driver than her husband.

We use ‘than’ when comparing one thing with another.

♦ I’m taller than you.

♦ He’s shorter than me.

♦ My son is more musical than my daughter.

Irregular forms

good – better

bad – worse

far – farther/further

Example sentences using comparatives

♦ My car is faster than yours.

♦ Apples are healthier than cakes.

♦ This year’s English exam was a lot more difficult than last year’s.

♦ I’m fatter than my sister.

♦ He’s a lot funnier than you.

♦ I think older people are more interesting.

♦ My sore throat is worse today.

♦ I thought my English exam would be harder.

♦ This car is too expensive. Have you got something cheaper?

♦ I feel much healthier since I stopped eating meat.

♦ I’m getting better at English.

♦ I need a more modern phone.

♦ You look cold. You need to buy a warmer coat.

♦ I was more interested in English than maths at school.

100 English comparatives

angry – angrier

good – better

big – bigger

blue – bluer

brave – braver

busy – busier

clever – cleverer

clever – more clever

cold – colder

dry – drier

easy- easier

fast – faster

fat – fatter

funny – funnier

gentle – gentler

happy – happier

healthy – healthier

high – higher

hot – hotter

kind – kinder

large – larger

late – later

long – longer

loud – louder

lucky – luckier

mean – meaner

nice – nicer

old – older

pretty – prettier

quick – quicker

quiet – quieter

rich – richer

sad – sadder

safe – safer

short – shorter

simple – simpler

simple – more simple

small – smaller

smart – smarter

strange – stranger

strong – stronger

tall – taller

thin – thinner

weak – weaker

weird – weirder

wet – wetter

wise – wiser

bad – worse

young – younger

admirable – more admirable

athletic – more athletic

attractive – more attractive

amusing – more amusing

awesome – more awesome

beautiful – more beautiful

boring – more boring

careful – more careful

caring – more caring

charming – more charming

clever – more clever

comfortable – more comfortable

complicated – more complicated

crowded – more crowded

daring – more daring

dependable – more dependable

difficult – more difficult

economical – more economical

efficient – more efficient

embarrassing – more embarrassing

exciting – more exciting

expensive – more expensive

extraordinary – more extraordinary

extroverted – more extroverted

famous – more famous

forgetful – more forgetful

fragrant – more fragrant

funny – more funny

generous – more generous

gentle – more gentle

graceful – more graceful

grateful – more grateful

important – more important

inspirational – more inspirational

intelligent – more intelligent

interesting – more interesting

introverted – more introverted

irritating – more irritating

modern – more modern

musical – more musical

organized – more organized

original – more original

peaceful – more peaceful

photogenic – more photogenic

pleasant – more pleasant

popular – more popular

talented – more talented

talkative – more talkative

thoughtful – more thoughtful

trustworthy – more trustworthy

valuable – more valuable

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk

Listen out for the comparatives in this song (some of them are in the extracts below the video).

Hi, I'm Angela, the creator of the Botanical Linguist site. I'm a freelance writer, linguist, and qualified English language teacher. I specialize in writing online course content, and blog posts and articles about business, education, and the English language. I’m also a writing coach for non-native users of English who want to blog better in English.